60 GHz radio-over-fiber transmission impairments for broadband wireless signals

The recent advances reported in low cost production components and circuits operating at 60 GHz combined with the increasing consumer demands for wireless high speed applications have lead to a boost in research of millimeter-wave (mm-wave) systems and networks operating in the 60 GHz region. The abundant unlicensed spectrum around 60 GHz have the potential to support consumer demands that require high bandwidth such as real time streaming content download for high-definition TV, wireless gigabit Ethernet, etc. In this paper we will considerer the optical transmission limitations of digitally modulated 60 GHz carriers, considering different optical modulation techniques. The attainable transmission distance will be discussed in terms of system operating conditions.